Capsule filling device



Aug. 30, 1966 R. M. FRITTS 3,269,429

CAPSULE FILLING DEVI GE Filed April 27, 1964 BY 0/44? A TTORNEYZ United States Patent 3,269,429 CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE Ralph M. Fritts, 6401 W. 69th St., flveriand Park, Kans. Filed Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,895 4 Claims. (Cl. 141133) This invention relates to pharmaceutical equipment for simultaneously loading a large number of capsules and, more specifically, to improvements in apparatus of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,546,300, granted March 27, 1951.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a simple, practical, and easily operated capsule filling device which will simultaneously fill a large number of capsules with a high degree of accuracy.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a capsule filling device having a movable part which may be rapidly shifted between a capsule-filling position and a capsule-unloading position by a simple manipulation thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a capsule filling device having a removable part that may be made available in a number of different sizes, each of said parts being employed in the filling of a capsule of a given size and being interchangeable so that capsules of various sizes may be accommodated by the apparatus.

Other objects will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the instant invention, a portion of the top plate being broken away to reveal the bottom plate; and

FIG. 2 is a central, vertical sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

The device shown in the figures comprises a base having a central opening 12 therethrough receiving the outer race 14 of a ball bearing assembly. Base 10 rests upon a suitable horizontal support 16, such as a table or the like. Outer .race 14 is secured to base 10, the inner race 18 of the bearing assembly being rigid with an upright, elongated spindle 20.

A pair of circular, flat, disc-like plates 22 and 24 are stacked on spindle 20 in vertically spaced relationship, plate 22 being the bottom plate and. plate 24 being the top plate.

A bushing 26 is received by a central opening through bottom plate 22 and is rigidly secured thereto. Bushing 26 is provided with an upper, annular flange 28 which bears against the uppermost surface 30 of plate 22. Bushing 26 extends below plate 22, a set collar 32 being slipped over the depending portion of the bushing and rigidly attached thereto by a setscrew 34. It may be seen that setscrew 34 extends completely through the Wall of bushing 26 and bears on spindle 20, thus forming collar 32, bushing 26, and bottom plate 22 into a rigid unit. It may be noted that plate 22 is spaced from base 10 a sufiicient distance to leave a clearance space between the bottom of collar 32 and bushing 26 and the top of base 10, permitting plate 22 to rotate with spindle 20 in the bearing.

The upper end of spindle 20 has a slot 36 therein extending completely across the spindle along a diameter thereof. A pair of opposed, radial notches 38 intersect slot 36 and extend outwardly therefrom along a diameter of spindle 29 in perpendicular relationship to slot 36. It should be noted that slot 36 extends into the spindle axially thereof to a considerable depth relative to notches 38.

A sleeve 40 is rigid with top plate 24 and extends upwardly from the uppermost surface 42 of the top plate. Sleeve 40 is provided with a pair of opposed, radial pins 44 which are seated in the sleeve, the inner ends of the pins extending clear of the sleeve and normally resting in ice corresponding notches 38. These inner ends of pins 44 normally suspend plate 24 in the position shown by the full lines.

Top plate 24 is provided with a plurality of holes 46 which are disposed in circular patterns about the axis of the spindle. Each of the holes 46 receives a capsule 48, the latter having an open top 50 and a closed bottom 52. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the spacing between top plate 24 and bottom plate 22 is normally such that the tops 50 of the capsules are flush with the uppermost surface 42 of top plate 24, while the closed bottoms 52 thereof rest on the uppermost surface 30 of bottom plate 22.

In operation, top plate 24 is disposed as shown by the full lines in FIG. 2 so that the open tops 50 of the capsules 48 will be flush with or slightly below the uppermost surface 42 thereof. The powdery material 54 with which the capsules are to be filled is poured onto surface 42 and both plates 22 and 24 are rotated in unison. During rotation of the plates, a hand-held spatula 56 is employed by the operator in the manner as shown in FIG. 1. It may be readily appreciated that, as the plates are rotated in the direction as shown by the arrow, the powdery material 54 will be pushed against spatula 56 and held by the spatula as the holes 46 pass beneath the material. Thus, the material will drop into the capsules until it is expended. Furthermore, the use of the spatula assures that surface 42 will be wiped or scraped clean, leaving only the completely filled capsules.

After the capsules are completely filled, spatula 56 may then be used to scrape any remaining material 54 from surface 42 prior to removing the capsules from the device. Removal of the capsules is effected by rotating top plate 24 in either direction while simultaneously holding against bottom plate 22 so that the latter will remain stationary. This causes the inner ends of pins 44 to move out of notches 38 and, upon continued rotation of top plate 24 through a arc, the pins become aligned with slot 36 and the top plate descends along spindle 20. Plate 24 comes to rest on flange 28, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, thereby permitting ready removal of the capsules since the open tops thereof now protrude above surface 42. The caps (not shown) for capsules 48 may be placed thereon prior to removal from the device to prevent spilling of the material therein, if desired.

It should be noted that the provision of flange 28 maintains some separation between plates 24 and 22 even when top plate 24 is in its lower position, thereby precluding severe pinching of the operators fingers during operation of the device. Manifestly, the loading of additional capsules may be effected by raising top plate 24 and rotating the same to again return the plate to its initial position.

A number of top plates 24 may be provided for each device of the instant invention in order to accommodate capsules of different sizes. The thickness of each of the various interchangeable plates, the height of the pins 44 in sleeve 41 and the size of the holes 46 therein may be varied so that a capsule of any configuration may be filled. If a given plate contains more holes 46 than there are capsules to be filled during a particular operation, loss of material 54 through the empty :holes may be precluded by the simple expedient of covering the unused holes with Scotch tape.

In constructing the apparatus, it is important that the uppermost surfaces 42 and 30 of plates 24 and 22 be smooth. If surface 42 is not smooth, accurate filling of the capsules with the desired quantity of material will be difiicult. Irregularities or bumps in surface 30 will create resistance to the rotating of plate 24 relative to plate 22 since the bottoms 52 of the capsules are forced to drag along surface 30 during such relative rotation. Thus, surfaces 30 and 42 are preferably formed by machining the plates to a smooth finish.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as neW and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for use in filling capsules with a powdery material wherein said capsules have open tops and closed bottoms, said device comprising:

a spindle having an upright'axis;

means supporting the spindle for rotation about said axis;

a bottom plate surrounding the spindle and provided with a horizontal uppermost surface;

means securing said plate to the spindle for rotation therewith;

a top plate surrounding the spindle for rotation with respect thereto about said axis, and having a horizontal, powder-receiving uppermost surface; and

structure on the top plate, engaging the upper end of the spindle, and normally supporting the top plate above the bottom plate in vertically spaced relationship thereto,

said top plate having a plurality of holes for receiving the capsules with their open tops flush with said surface of the top plate and their closed bottoms resting on said surface of the bottom plate,

said spindle having means clearing said structure upon rotation of the top plate relative to the spindle for descent of the top plate along the spindle, placing said surface of the top plate below the tops of the capsules.

2. A device for use in filling capsules with a powdery material wherein said capsules have open tops and. closed bottoms, said device comprising:

a spindle having an upright axis;

means supporting the spindle for rotation about said axis;

a bottom plate surrounding the spindle and provided with a horizontal uppermost surface;

means securing said plate to the spindle for rotation therewith;

a top plate surrounding the spindle for rotation with respect thereto about said axis, and having a horizontal, powder-receiving uppermost surface; and

pin structure on the top plate, engaging the upper end of the spindle, and normally supporting the top plate above the bottom plate in vertically spaced relationship thereto,

said spindle having notch means therein at said upper end thereof normally receiving said structure for rotation of the top plate with the spindle,

said top plate having a plurality of holes for receiving the capsules with their open tops flush with said surface of the top plate and their closed bottoms resting on said surface of the bottom plate,

said spindle having means clearing said structure upon rotation of the top plate relative to the spindle for descent of the top plate along the spindle, placing said surface of the top plate below the tops of the capsules.

3. A device for use in filling capsules with a powdery material wherein said capsules have open tops and closed bottoms, said device comprising:

a spindle having an upright axis;

means supporting the spindle for rotation about said axis;

a bottom plate surrounding the spindle and provided with a horizontal uppermost surface;

means securing said plate to the spindle for rotation therewith;

a top plate surrounding the spindle for rotation with respect thereto about said axis, and having a horizontal, powder-receiving uppermost surface; and

pin structure on the top plate, engaging the upper end of the spindle, and normally supporting the top plate above the bottom plate in vertically spaced relationship thereto,

said spindle having notch means therein at said upper end thereof normally receiving said structure for rotation of the top plate with the spindle,

said top plate having a plurality of holes for receiving the capsules with their open tops flush with said surface of the top plate and their closed bottoms resting on said surface of the bottom plate,

said spindle having slot means therein at said upper end thereof, extending below the notch means, and disposed to receive said structure upon rotation of the top plate relative to the spindle for descent of the top plate along the spindle, placing said surface of the top plate below the tops of the capsules.

4. The invention of claim 3, said structure comprising a pair of opposed radial pins, said notch means intersecting the slot means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,091,445 8/ 1937 Hirschle 141-246 2,526,965 10/ 1950 Nordman :141-246 2,720,351 10/1955 Fleischer et al. 14l246 LAVER'NE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. BELL, Examiner, 

1. A DEVICE FOR USE IN FILLING CAPSULES WITH A POWDERY MATERIAL WHEREIN SAID CAPSULES HAVE OPEN TOPS AND CLOSED BOTTOMS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A SPINDLE HAVING AN UPRIGHT AXIS; MEANS SUPPORTING THE SPINDLE FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS; A BOTTOM PLATE SURROUNDING THE SPINDLE AND PROVIDED WITH A HORIZONTAL UPPERMOST SURFACE; MEANS SECURING SAID PLATE TO THE SPINDLE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH; A TOP PLATE SURROUNDING THE SPINDLE FOR ROTATION WITH RESPECT THERETO ABOUT SAID AXIS, AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL, POWDER-RECEIVING UPPERMOST SURFACE; AND STRUCTURE ON THE TOP PLATE, ENGAGING THE UPPER END OF THE SPINDLE, AND NORMALLY SUPPORTING THE TOP PLATE ABOVE THE BOTTOM PLATE IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO, SAID TOP PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES FOR RECEIVING THE CAPSULES WITH THEIR OPEN TOPS FLUSH WITH SAID SURFACE OF THE TOP PLATE AND THEIR CLOSED BOTTOMS RESTING ON SAID SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM PLATE, SAID SPINDLE HAVING MEANS CLEARING SAID STRUCTURE UPON ROTATION OF THE TOP PLATE RELATIVE TO THE SPINDLE FOR DESCENT OF THE TOP PLATE ALONG THE SPINDLE, PLACING SAID SURFACE OF THE TOP PLATE BELOW THE TOPS OF THE CAPSULES. 